MTs who are careful are PRICELESS

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I hope you don't mind, but I feel an urgent need to copy it and send it to all those who have so graciously *looked out for me* over the last couple of years!!!

I read something about a prostate being dictated as a _______ cc prostate, which needed to remain as is. Anybody know?

1). Yes, you'll be guessing. And you won't know if your guess was right (payable) or not unless you are actually posting what got billed and see what got rejected. IMHO, coding is a guessing game that insurers don't want you to win, hence the constant changes in the rules. If you can get your facility to send you to day seminars such as "Coding for Optimal Reimbursement", it may help. Make sure your coding manuals are the VERY latest version, at the least.

2). You can and will be held liable in cases regarding Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. According to the feds, "ignorance is no excuse" for making mistakes in coding, yet they refuse guidance to anyone trying to do it, annually giving out constantly changing vague rules that force you to guess. They do random audits and they are quick to scream fraud at honest mistakes. The feds are hostile to doctors and are basically setting them up to fail so they can scream fraud and demand ALL their money back someday. They will not only blame the doctor and the facility, but the coder herself, and there can be heavy fines/jail time for offenders. Has your facility addressed in any way what they would "do" in the case of an audit to help YOU, such as provide you with access to the facility lawers? Or will they gladly push the blame onto their uneducated coders and let them take a fall?

So be very, very careful. Be certain the reason for the exam matches the code. If someone asks you to change a code, make sure there is documentation to prove that code. Example - "rule out DVT" may be the reason for the exam. DO NOT use code for "DVT" unless the patient actually has DVT. Otherwise use a screening code (they start with V, I think, its been a few years since I did this). If that's not payable, too bad for the facility. If you go ahead and put DVT and the patient does not have it - that can be construed as "fraud" by the feds.

I was told I had to use an adapter when I switched companies and had to switch foot pedals. I had nothing but problems with it. I would press on the foot pedal and nothing would happen. I would have to slam my foot down 3-4 times to get it to go. I happen to have a laptop with a docking station that has 2 ports so I got rid of the adapter.

Your monitor should be plugged into a video port not a serial port. If you don't have a serial port, you can possibly purchase one. If you have a desktop and you have an open slot then you can buy one and install it. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, see if there's a geek squad or something near you.

I just watched a video online from AmeriPlan and I shut if off when the host said, "What else of this value would only cost 95 dollars?"..be careful--you should not have to pay for a job.

He sounds like the type that knows better than to come to your house and violate a protection order, but you never, ever know and it's still early yet. Keep your doors locked.

My ex was "pre-protection order" (i.e. many years back) and he got through the basement window and was sitting at my kitchen table in the pitch dark. I can still hear him sneer, "Did you have fun with your boyfriend?"

I was grocery shopping and my mother was watching the kids. I got lucky because he really didn't want to kill me, just control me.

He finally gave up on me when I found and eventually married a great guy that doesn't expect me to fold towels in high heels and "poofy hair".

Sad part of that story is that he also disowned his own kids. But, after 15 years, the kids have realized that it was neither my fault or theirs. Their "father" lives with me. Their "donor dad" is living 5 miles away, a recluse, and drinking himself to death.

When Is a Debt Canceled (IRS.GOV)

A debt is canceled on the date an identifiable event occurs. An identifiable event is:

A discharge in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the U.S. Code for business or investment debt (see Exceptions on this page).
A cancellation or extinguishment making the debt unenforceable in a receivership, foreclosure, or similar federal or state court proceeding.
A cancellation or extinguishment when the statute of limitations for collecting the debt expires, or when the statutory period for filing a claim or beginning a deficiency judgment proceeding expires. Expiration of the statute of limitations is an identifiable event only when a debtor's affirmative statute of limitations defense is upheld in a final judgment or decision of a court and the appeal period has expired.
A cancellation or extinguishment when the creditor elects foreclosure remedies that by law end or bar the creditor's right to collect the debt. This event applies to a mortgage lender or holder who is barred by local law from pursuing debt collection after a �power of sale� in the mortgage or deed of trust is exercised.
A cancellation or extinguishment due to a probate or similar proceeding.
A discharge of indebtedness under an agreement between the creditor and the debtor to cancel the debt at less than full consideration.
A discharge of indebtedness because of a decision or a defined policy of the creditor to discontinue collection activity and cancel the debt. A creditor's defined policy can be in writing or an established business practice of the creditor. A creditor's practice to stop collection activity and abandon a debt when a particular nonpayment period expires is a defined policy.
The expiration of nonpayment testing period. This event occurs when the creditor has not received a payment on the debt during the testing period. The testing period is a 36-month period ending on December 31 plus any time when the creditor was precluded from collection activity by a stay in bankruptcy or similar bar under state or local law. The creditor can rebut the occurrence of this identifiable event if:
1. The creditor (or a third-party collection agency) has engaged in significant bona fide collection activity during the 12-month period ending on December 31 or
2. Facts and circumstances that exist on January 31 following the end of the 36-month period indicate that the debt was not canceled.
Significant bona fide collection activity does not include nominal or ministerial collection action, such as an automated mailing. Facts and circumstances indicating that a debt was not canceled include the existence of a lien relating to the debt (up to the value of the security) or the sale or packaging for sale of the debt by the creditor.

Exceptions

You are not required to report on Form 1099-C the following:

Certain bankruptcies. You are not required to report a debt canceled in bankruptcy unless you know from information included in your books and records that the debt was incurred for business or investment purposes. If you are required to report a business or investment debt canceled in bankruptcy, report it for the later of:
1. The year in which the amount of canceled debt first can be determined or
2. The year in which the debt is canceled in bankruptcy.
A debt is incurred for business if it is incurred in connection with the conduct of any trade or business other than the trade or business of performing services as an employee. A debt is incurred for investment if it is incurred to purchase property held for investment (as defined in section 163(d)(5)).
Interest. You are not required to report interest. However, if you choose to report interest as part of the canceled debt in box 2, you must show the interest separately in box 3.
Nonprincipal amounts. Nonprincipal amounts include penalties, fines, fees, and administrative costs. For a lending transaction, you are not required to report any amount other than stated principal. A lending transaction occurs when a lender loans money to, or makes advances on behalf of, a borrower (including revolving credit and lines of credit). For a nonlending transaction, nonprincipal amounts are included in the debt. However, until further guidance is issued, no penalties will be imposed for failure to report these amounts in nonlending transactions

Geesh, June. I am extremely careful, and my girls have been told not to open the door unless they know the person on the other side. You know children do not always listen. I had been down the hall using the bathroom, and my 13yo thought the 16yo had stepped outside and locked herself out. Since it was a soft knock and a familiar one, she thought she knew who was on the other side. When she realized it wasn't who she thought it was, she shut the door right away and came and told me there was a man in our garage. We've lived here for 10 years, and this is the first time anyone other than family has knocked on that door. There isn't a lot of crime in our area, and we leave our garage door most of the time. We never have any problems. I know...there's always a first time....never say never and all that...but I am careful.

A couple of weeks ago, religious solicitors walked up to our door. I was working, and my 16yo opened the door to them because they were women. Not anyone she knew, but she opened the door because she didn't find women to be intimidating. That's why I say children don't always listen to what you say.

After those Missouri boys were abducted in rural areas, I've talked to my girls again about being careful, beiing aware and watching out for each other.

My hubby thinks I'm paranoid. I'm the type to keep my doors locked at all times, day or night, and he thinks it's silly because we're in a rural area and probably fine. When I dispute the point with stories from the news, his rebuttal is that a locked door will not keep out someone who wants in. Maybe not...but they'll be a lot more noisy trying to get past that locked door than they would an unlocked door.